Proposal Deadlines

Mega-Events and the Future of Rio's Favelas

The Synergos Institute, collaborating with the Mega-Cities Project and Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada, will conduct a three-year project in Rio de Janeiro to track the intent and impact of public policies and social programs on informal settlements in the lead-up to, during, and after the World Cup and the Olympics. As Rio seeks to position itself as a "world city," the research will examine the interplay of conflicting claims to land, housing, infrastructure, social services and public resources, and the extent to which programs implemented in preparation for the World Cup and Olympics benefit or harm favela residents, discerning the blockages to collaboration along the way. The project team will conduct interviews and meetings with favela residents, government officials and the police, examine current interventions, and develop policy briefs to share with policy makers and the general public.